The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-02-05

flowers, and leave to carry away any
dead twigs or branches which might
have been left under the trees. The
men agreed, and Selim having made
his gatherings into bundle, was car
rying it to town, when he passed an
avenue where a man was busy sweep
ing up the dry sticks and leaves which
the wind had blown down,
"Here, you" said the man Grossly,
"helping is better than staring. Sweep
up these for me, and you shall have
them in payment for your trouble"
with pleasure" said Selim, cheer
fully; so he swept up the sticks, and
knotting them together, dragged them
after him in the road. He had not
gone far, however, when he heard a
loud shouting, and saw the Kings pot
ter standing at the gate of the royal
potteries reckoning to him.
what will you sell me those sticks
for?"we have just run short of fire-wood
in the kiln where we are baking some
pots for our royal master, and five have
already been spOilt in consequence.
Give me those faggots of yours that 1
may save the rest, and name your
price"
Sixteen pence and the spoilt pots"
said Selim boldly, for he thought to
himself, "if he is in such hurry for
the firing he won't mind giving good
price for it," and indeed the potter did
not even wait to haggle with him, but
thrust the money into his hand, babe
him take the pots, and fastened off
with his purchase.
Next morning Selim laid out enough
money ON treacle to fill the whole of
the great jars with sweet drinks, and
having hired truck to carry them on,
was setting off to the gardens as before,
when his eye was caught by long line
of black specks dotting the mountain
side, and he paused to ask passer-by
what they were.
"Why, tomorrow is the great horse
fair in the city, and those are some Of
the horses coming in to be sold at it.
The grass and forage sellers will have
good times this evening, for the poor
animals arrive so tired and hungry
from their journey, that the dealers are
always in a hurry to buy up all the
food they can for them.
On hearing this Selim turned his
steps instead to some large meadows
by the roadside, where two hundred
lawmakers were at work cutting the
grass under the hot sun. When these
men saw his jars of drink they soon
flocked round him, begging eagerly tol
some, and offering to pay when they
received their wages in the evening
but Selim smiled pleasantly, and an.
swered in each ones ear
Don't trouble about money. Give
me only one little armful of the grass
from your cutting and leave to sell i
before you sell your own this evening
and you may drink your fill. l am no
avaricious.
THAT you are not, said the man sim
ply. IAN armful of grass ism tmuch anC
one can we'll afford 10 let you dispos,
of such a trihe before selling one
own" So the bargain was concluded
and Selim made haste to collect hi
bundle of grass from each mans cut
ting, and deposit it in the road OUTSIDE
the meadow By-and-by up came tn
long string of horses; and as soon a
their dealers came in sight of the frs
haymaker they called out to him, offer
ing to purchase load of his grass t.
feed their hungry animals.
with all my heart, said the hay
maker, but just go on few step
first. There is a man in the road ther
with a little armful of grass. Buy tina
and you can come back for mine"
The next haymaker gave the sam
answer, so the horse dealers pushe,
on quickly till they came to wher
Selim was sitting beside hi
two-hundred armfuls Of grass
, which made hillock big enoug
to feed the whole troop of horses; an
| which he was able to sell for no less
sum than a thousand silver pennies.
Now, as he was going back to tow
Q with all this money in his pocket, VIII
l should he see but an old woman stand
ing on steep bank staring at some
Y thing while she clapped her hands wit
0 pleasure.
e "Why, Goody," said Selim, "wha
, is it pleases you?' And the old woma
t answered:
/; Look for yourself, honey. Do 70
V see those two big vessels making fc
\ the shoreP Those are the merchar
4 ships from the south which have bee
f so long expected, and by this evenin
+ all our richest traders will have gor
y down to the beach to bargain for II
# cargoos. The captains won't get ;
e much as they think, for the merchan
e beat them down; but others will mai
e huge fortunes, and even l may get
4 !. Al. 4 /